Fluidized Sensor for Mapping a Pipeline
First Claim
1. An apparatus for facilitating the mapping of a pipeline, the pipeline containing a gas, a liquid, or a liquid/gas mixture, the apparatus comprising:
- an internal sphere having an outer diameter, a generally smooth unobstructed outer surface, and an internal orientation stabilizer, the internal sphere enclosing;
a tri-axial inertial sensor;
a data recording device;
a power source; and
an external sphere having an inner diameter incrementally larger than the outer diameter of the internal sphere and a generally smooth unobstructed inner surface, the external sphere fully enclosing the internal sphere.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for facilitating the mapping of a partially or fully occluded (hidden) pipeline containing a gas, a liquid, or a liquid-gas mixture. The system includes a sensor device having an internal sphere with a generally smooth outer surface and an internal orientation stabilizer. Within the internal sphere are contained a tri-axial inertial sensor, a time keeping device, a data processing device, a data recording device, and a power source. The internal sphere is centered and held within an external sphere having an inside diameter that is incrementally larger than the outside diameter of the internal sphere. The external sphere has a generally smooth unobstructed inner surface and fully encloses the internal sphere. A quantity of fluid fills the spatial gap between the outside surface of the inside sphere and the inside surface of the external sphere in a manner that permits omni-directional free rotational movement of the internal sphere within the external sphere. The use of the sensor involves the process of downloading data that has been stored within the data recording device of the internal sphere after it has traveled its path through the pipeline to be mapped.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for facilitating the mapping of a pipeline, the pipeline containing a gas, a liquid, or a liquid/gas mixture, the apparatus comprising:
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an internal sphere having an outer diameter, a generally smooth unobstructed outer surface, and an internal orientation stabilizer, the internal sphere enclosing;
a tri-axial inertial sensor;
a data recording device;
a power source; and
an external sphere having an inner diameter incrementally larger than the outer diameter of the internal sphere and a generally smooth unobstructed inner surface, the external sphere fully enclosing the internal sphere. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19)
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12. An apparatus for facilitating the mapping of a pipeline, the pipeline containing a flowing gas, liquid, or liquid/gas mixture, the apparatus comprising:
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a sphere having a generally smooth outer surface, the sphere enclosing;
a tri-axial inertial sensor;
a data recording device;
a power source; and
an external orientation stabilizer positioned on the outer surface of the sphere and interactive with the flowing gas, liquid, or liquid/gas mixture to maintain an orientation of the sphere with respect to a direction of flow. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification